The Spanish refrigeration body Asociación de Empresas de Frío y sus Tecnologías (AEFYT) has called on the country’s Government to help it continue using climate-harmful hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Such a move would run completely contrary to the intention of the revised EU F-Gas Regulation, adopted in April 2014, which is actively aiming to reduce consumption of HFCs in Europe by at least 79 per cent by 2030.

A key measure to achieve its goals is the HFC phase-down that progressively restricts the supply of HFC chemicals placed on the European market.

HFCs are a family of super greenhouse gases, known as fluorinated or F-gases, which are widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning and yet are often thousands of times more harmful to the climate than CO2

AEFYT this week warned of a “critical” looming shortage of R404A and R507A refrigerants and has appealed to the Spanish Government to reduce taxes on HFCs.

Spanish industry is not alone in seeking to undermine or weaken the F-gas phase-down – last week, three of Germany’s leading air-conditioning and refrigeration associations demanded meetings with its government over refrigerant shortages, while Italian associations have called on the Italian competition authority to investigate what they describe as “unjustified” and “disproportionate” increases in refrigerant prices.

Clare Perry, EIA Climate Campaign leader, said: “It is disappointing to see these companies attempting to derail the phase-down process, especially as European industry has known it was coming for three-and-a-half years.

“The importance of doing all we can to combat the impacts of climate change can’t be overstated and taking out HFCs in favour of switching to ‘natural’, less harmful refrigerants has long been the lowest-hanging fruit and the simplest way of making a major impact in reducing emissions.

“Now that the phase-down is actually beginning to bite, it would be utterly self-defeating if Member States begin to give their own domestic sectors a pass at the expense of the world’s climate.”

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China's blow to recycling means increased demand for brand new plastic - and the USA is cashing in

At a time when the apparent scale of global plastic pollution is spurring many nations to take action to reduce manufacture and prevent plastic waste from further polluting the environment, opening new polyethylene plants is reckless and irresponsible, akin to opening new CFC production factories after we first discovered ozone depletion.

And guess what? The same companies that punched a continent-sized hole in the ozone layer are still involved …

The world’s governments need to focus on reducing production of virgin plastics and investing in domestic reuse and recycling – continued growth of plastic production will just perpetuate the throwaway society and marine plastic pollution.

The loss of forests in Africa in the past century is substantially less than previously estimated, an analysis of historical records and paleontology evidence by Yale researchers shows.

Previous estimates put deforestation at 35% to 55% on the continent since 1900. The new analysis estimates closed-canopy forests have shrunk by 21.7%, according to findings published Dec. 11 in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. However, research also shows that some West and East African forests have been reduced between 80% and 90%.

International award recognises EIA’s ‘unique’ climate investigations and work

We were delighted to be among 60 recipients recognised in the Ozone Awards 2017 by Parties to the Montreal Protocol for extraordinary commitment and outstanding contributions to fighting climate change.

EIA was singled out for a Partnership Award in recognition of its unique contributions over several decades. The Secretariat noted: “From hard-hitting investigations on illegal ODS trade to successful advocacy to accelerate the HCFC phase-out and adopt a global HFC phase-down, EIA plays a unique and valuable role within the Montreal Protocol family."